"Wait! Don't leave!"
Saint Roselith Seraphina instinctively called out.
She had never expected the mysterious voice to actually respond to her.
That meant one thing.
Its owner possessed an independent consciousness.
Her very first thought immediately turned toward the mysterious power that had accompanied her since arriving in this world.
Could it be…
The system that had remained dormant for more than twenty years had finally awakened?
Was the mission it had just issued
To defeat "Red-Haired" Shanks?
But…
Why was it acting so mysteriously?
There was no explanation.
No reason.
No objective.
The strange presence vanished completely, as though nothing had happened.
Only silence remained.
It seemed that she would only discover the identity of that mysterious speaker after defeating Shanks.
From its tone alone…
She could only determine one thing.
It was the voice of a woman.
"So…"
"Why was I brought into this world?"
Seraphina slowly clenched her fist.
"Perhaps…"
"The answer lies with the owner of that voice."
"Vice Admiral…"
"You're not seriously thinking about challenging Red-Haired Shanks… are you?"
Reiva carefully broke the silence.
Everyone aboard the warship had noticed Seraphina standing motionless for quite some time.
Knowing her personality…
There was only one possible explanation.
She was already planning how to defeat one of the Four Emperors.
Seraphina calmly looked toward her Marines.
"I won't drag all of you into this."
"This is my battle."
"I'll go alone."
She had already made up her mind.
This confrontation belonged solely to her.
She had no intention of sacrificing her subordinates for a personal duel.
"Huh?!"
"Vice Admiral!"
"That is absolutely unacceptable!"
Several Marines immediately objected.
One of them hurriedly unfolded the newspaper.
"According to the report…"
"Red-Haired Shanks has already established his territory deep within the New World!"
"To reach him…"
"We would have to cross nearly the entire Grand Line!"
"And the New World isn't occupied by only one Emperor!"
"There are countless powerful pirates waiting there!"
"Please reconsider!"
The surrounding Marines all nodded in agreement.
None of them wanted Seraphina to face that danger alone.
Even if they understood the overwhelming gap separating them from the Red-Haired Pirates…
They still wished to accompany her.
Even if all they could do…
Was stand beside her until the very end.
"Vice Admiral!"
"If you're determined to go…"
"Then please allow us to go with you!"
"That's right!"
"We'll fight beside you!"
"No matter what happens!"
The voices echoed across the deck.
Every Marine present shared the same determination.
Seraphina slowly shook her head.
"No."
Her answer was absolute.
She knew better than anyone what awaited them inside the New World.
Against an Emperor of the Sea…
Half of the Marines aboard this vessel would likely die during the battle itself.
The other half…
Would merely be waiting for death.
She would never willingly send them into such a battlefield.
"No."
"I refuse."
Several Marines immediately protested.
"We refuse too!"
"Vice Admiral!"
"When we enlisted in the Marines…"
"We were already prepared to die!"
"If we're going to face a Yonko…"
"Then we'll face one together!"
Seraphina's eyes softened.
"Don't say that…"
"You all have families waiting for you."
She looked at every one of them individually.
Each familiar face.
Each trusted subordinate.
She remembered every one of their names.
She remembered where they came from.
She remembered the families they hoped to protect.
This journey…
Was different.
She wasn't marching into war.
She was settling a personal score.
If things went wrong…
She possessed enough strength to escape.
They did not.
"Vice Admiral!"
"I don't have any family left."
Lake stepped forward first.
Seraphina looked toward him.
"Lake…"
Another Marine saluted.
"Vice Admiral!"
"My younger brother and younger sister will take care of our parents."
"Reiva…"
Another voice rang out.
"Vice Admiral!"
"I believe you'll defeat Red-Haired Shanks!"
"We'll all return alive!"
"Kexian…"
Seraphina silently called each of their names.
She knew every one of their circumstances.
Precisely because she knew…
She refused to accept their request.
"You don't need to persuade me anymore."
"There is no room for negotiation."
"My decision has already been made."
"I won't discuss this any further."
Her tone left no room for argument.
She had to find Shanks now.
At this very moment…
His territory had only recently been established.
Its defenses had not yet fully stabilized.
This was the easiest opportunity she would ever have to locate him.
If she waited several more years…
Finding the Red-Haired Pirates somewhere within the vast New World would become infinitely more difficult.
Nor was she acting recklessly.
During the past several years…
Her swordsmanship…
Her Haki…
Her physical abilities…
Every aspect of her strength had advanced tremendously.
Most importantly…
She had completely mastered the hidden power she had only barely controlled during their previous duel.
This time…
She believed she possessed a genuine chance of victory.
If she succeeded…
She would immediately withdraw.
Every Marine aboard the vessel suddenly straightened.
Without anyone giving an order
They spoke in perfect unison.
"I swear!"
"To uphold Justice until death!"
"To never retreat!"
"To never compromise!"
The oath echoed proudly across the sea.
Reiva stepped forward once again.
"Vice Admiral!"
"A new Emperor of the Sea has appeared!"
"The Marines cannot simply stand by and watch!"
"If no one challenges him…"
"Then let our fleet become the first!"
At that moment
A familiar voice sounded from behind.
"What happened here?"
Bruce had only just finished handling several routine matters below deck.
The moment he emerged…
He found nearly every Marine gathered together.
Anyone unfamiliar with the situation…
Would probably mistake it for a mutiny.
One sailor immediately explained.
"Captain Bruce!"
"The Vice Admiral intends to challenge Red-Haired Shanks!"
Bruce froze.
For several long seconds…
He said nothing.
Then…
He sighed deeply.
"My Lady…"
"What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into now…"
His first instinct was naturally to stop her.
Yet…
The moment he looked into Seraphina's eyes…
He understood.
She had already decided.
No one could change her mind now.
That had always been Saint Roselith Seraphina's nature.
Once she chose a path…
She never turned back.
Bruce slowly nodded.
"I understand."
He looked toward the surrounding Marines.
"If the Vice Admiral is going…"
"Then we are going as well."
Seraphina frowned.
"Why?"
Bruce answered calmly.
"Vice Admiral…"
"As your subordinates…"
"Unless you dismiss every one of us from the Marines…"
"And revoke our commissions…"
"We have no right to allow our commanding officer to face such an enemy alone."
He smiled.
"Besides…"
"What's so frightening about Red-Haired Shanks?"
"At worst…"
"We die."
"When every one of us enlisted…"
"We accepted that possibility."
The Marines around him all nodded firmly.
Bruce secretly sighed inwardly.
I have to inform Lord Victor…
Otherwise…
If something truly happens to Lady Seraphina…
Mary Geoise will never forgive me.
Even so…
He chose not to oppose her openly.
Instead…
He cautiously offered another suggestion.
"Vice Admiral…"
"If Lord Victor learns of this…"
"Mary Geoise will almost certainly forbid the operation."
Seraphina smiled faintly.
"The navigation manuals describe another method of entering the New World."
Bruce's pupils instantly contracted.
"You mean…"
He immediately understood.
Although he had never personally used it before…
As a former CP0 operative…
He naturally knew of that route.
Seraphina nodded.
"Yes."
"Coating the ship."
"The passage beneath the sea…"
"Through Fish-Man Island."
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